Not exactly a huge margin to make up with a debate against a weak performer forthcoming.

French presidential elections are like US presidential elections - the loser is always guaranteed an absolute minimum 45/46 percent of the vote. In 2008 despite being from the same party as Bush being the most hated President in American history and despite a Vice-Presidential running mate like Sarah Palin who was an object of ridicule and complete crackpot - McCain still got 46% of the vote.

By French standards, if Sarkozy loses 54-46% it will be regarded as a landslide

Not exactly a huge margin to make up with a debate against a weak performer forthcoming.

French presidential elections are like US presidential elections - the loser is always guaranteed an absolute minimum 45/46 percent of the vote. In 2008 despite being from the same party as Bush being the most hated President in American history and despite a Vice-Presidential running mate like Sarah Palin who was an object of ridicule and complete crackpot - McCain still got 46% of the vote.

By French standards, if Sarkozy loses 54-46% it will be regarded as a landslide

You might want to read up on the 2002 French presidential election.

And I'm sure Obama would have absolutely crushed McCain if they were running in France.

Not exactly a huge margin to make up with a debate against a weak performer forthcoming.

French presidential elections are like US presidential elections - the loser is always guaranteed an absolute minimum 45/46 percent of the vote. In 2008 despite being from the same party as Bush being the most hated President in American history and despite a Vice-Presidential running mate like Sarah Palin who was an object of ridicule and complete crackpot - McCain still got 46% of the vote.

By French standards, if Sarkozy loses 54-46% it will be regarded as a landslide

Not exactly a huge margin to make up with a debate against a weak performer forthcoming.

French presidential elections are like US presidential elections - the loser is always guaranteed an absolute minimum 45/46 percent of the vote. In 2008 despite being from the same party as Bush being the most hated President in American history and despite a Vice-Presidential running mate like Sarah Palin who was an object of ridicule and complete crackpot - McCain still got 46% of the vote.

By French standards, if Sarkozy loses 54-46% it will be regarded as a landslide

Indeed. For example, Mitterrand was fairly popular incumbent in 1988 and was expected to win rather easily. He got 54.02% and that was a landslide by French standards.

An incumbent vs. an extremist, who suddenly advanced into second round. Kind of like 1991 Louisiana gubernatorial ("vote for crook, not a fascist"). Chirac got his 82.21% not because he was so popular, but because everyone (outside of FN, of course) hated his opponent. It would look very diffrent with regular gaullist vs. socialist runoff.

And Chirac was hardly popular. In fact, he got the lowest support for an incumbent President in the first round.

When we're talking about current election, all comparisions to the fluke of 2002 are irrevelant.

Too bad I can't understand French, so watching it is pretty much useless because I won't understand what they are saying or if one of them makes a major gaffe (which will probably not happen anyway because they are no Rick Perrys).

Why isn't the German-French ARTE showing the debate and employing some French-German translators during the debate ? (Checked their schedule, not happening though.)

So, does anyone of the French posters here know a stream that translates the debate into German or English ?

I've no idea. I doubt you'll find any translated live stream, though maybe there's some chance of a translated version being posted on youtube.

As for me, obviously I'm going to watch it. Conventional wisdom seems to be that Sarkozy will win it because he is more energic and pugnacious, but if he is too aggressive this might easily backfire (see, quite ironically, the 2007 debate with an infuriated Royal facing a phlegmatic Sarko).

« Last Edit: May 02, 2012, 11:53:37 am by Finissons-en ! »

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Our numbers are dwindling. Our words are confused. Some of them have been twisted by the enemyuntil they can no longer be recognized.

Now what is wrong, or false, in what we have said?Just some parts, or everything?On whom can we still rely? Are we survivors, cast away by the current? Will we be left behind,no longer understanding anyone and being understood by no one?Must we rely on luck?

Our numbers are dwindling. Our words are confused. Some of them have been twisted by the enemyuntil they can no longer be recognized.

Now what is wrong, or false, in what we have said?Just some parts, or everything?On whom can we still rely? Are we survivors, cast away by the current? Will we be left behind,no longer understanding anyone and being understood by no one?Must we rely on luck?

Can someone explain why the debate is just three days before the election?

Tradition.

Anyways, just watching Sarko's TV clip, and it's basically a negative spot ! I don't get it. I thought they were banned ? Did Sarko just break the law ?

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Our numbers are dwindling. Our words are confused. Some of them have been twisted by the enemyuntil they can no longer be recognized.

Now what is wrong, or false, in what we have said?Just some parts, or everything?On whom can we still rely? Are we survivors, cast away by the current? Will we be left behind,no longer understanding anyone and being understood by no one?Must we rely on luck?

Our numbers are dwindling. Our words are confused. Some of them have been twisted by the enemyuntil they can no longer be recognized.

Now what is wrong, or false, in what we have said?Just some parts, or everything?On whom can we still rely? Are we survivors, cast away by the current? Will we be left behind,no longer understanding anyone and being understood by no one?Must we rely on luck?